THE EXPECTED ENEMY OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 151, 15 March 1918, Page 5

THE EXPECTED ENEMY OFFENSIVE

GERMAN MILITARY CRITIC COUNSELS DELAY

AMERICAN TROOPS ACTIVE By Telegraph-Press Aesociation-Oopitight (Rec. March 14, 7:a5 p.m.) ™- .... ... ..,,„■. . • London, March 13. ine military critic of the "Lokal Anzeiger," in an article which was apparently 'inspired, abandons the expectation of an immediate Western offensive. He argues that it is impossible for the Americans' to outweigh German accessions from the East. Delay was a good policy. The work of the submarines would probably compel the Allies to resort to a hopeless, exhausting offensive and then-Gormany would give a knock-out blow.—"The Times." ' AMERICAN ARTILLERY INFLICT HEAVY DAMAGE RAIDERS REACH GERMANS' SECOND LINE OF TRENCHES. (R«c. March 14, 11.30 p.m.) ~..,.,■ , m ' N ew York, March 13. Ine United rress correspondent on the American front says that the American artillery atToul inflicted heavy damage on a German position. The Americans then raided the German trenches, again reaching the second line American raids were also carried out east of Luneville.—Aiis.-N Z Cable Assn. PORTUGUESE REPULSE A RAID HOSTILE INFANTRY SUFFERS HEAVY LOSSES. e . r> i tt • i , London, March 13. blr Douglas Haig reports: "The Portuguese completely repulsed a raid on a front of seven hundred yards south-east of Laventio. Hostile infantry were caught by machine-gun fire; the front and flanks' suffered heavy losses. Both were endeavouring to cross our wire, and when retiring through tho artillery barrage many dead Germans were left in No Man's Land.° The enemy raided a post east of Zonnebeke. Three raids further south wero successfully repulsed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ACTIVITY OF BRITISH AIRMEN „.„,„. . London, March 13. isir Douglas Haig reports: "Our aviatorsmadoseveral reconnaissances on Monday night well east of our line. Five hundred bombs were dropped on large sidings and ammunition depots at Eluyfe and dopots south of Valenciennes, south-cast of Cambrai, and south of Douai. We dropped two hundred bombs at night on a dump and railway sidings north-east of St. Quentin. All our machines returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. -~... L „. , . London, March 13. ino Admiralty reports: "Our naval aircraft dropped three tons of bombs on Bruges dock on Monday night, and raided billets and sidings at St. Pierro Capelle yesterday, starting large fires. The maohine-guns were turned on enemy trenches."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-R«uter. " GERMAN .ATTACK ON THE FRENCH FRONT ENEMY PENETRATES ADVANCED TRENCHES, BUT IS DRIVEN OUT. (Rec. March 14, 7.35 p.m.) ,t, , . , , ~„,, London, March 13. A French communique states: "The Germans attacked west of Vaudesincourt. There was a lively engagement. We drove the enemy out from some advanced trenches in which he had gained a footing. There is reciprocal artillery firing on tho left of the Meuse."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. March 14, 7.35 p.m.) A German official report states: "We raided French trenches north-east of Fresnes and destroyed enemy works. There has been violent air fichtin" We brought down nineteen aeroplanes and two balloone yesterday."—Aus°N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. AMERICAN TROOPS FOR FRANCE A DIVISION TO BE SENT WITHOUT DELAY. „ , . ■ ' Washington, March 13. Irance has urgently appealed to the United States for greater speed in shipping troops to France. As a result, America will send a division of drafted men without delay. The second draft of 800,000 men -will bo called gradually to the camps, in order not to interfere with industry and agriculture. At least 150,000 skilled artisans will be called up by October —Aus - N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SITUATION REVIEWED A "HIGH MILITARY AUTHORITY'S" WEEKLY COMMENT (Rec. March 14, 8.45 p.m.) . ~l- r. -vi it. -, „ L • London, March 13. A high miktary authority" who is a t Present on the West front, says: "Half the strength of the German forc es ; s concentrated on the British front. There have been several attempts to ma k o O ut that tho British are not holding a propw Bharo of the line com parec ] with tha< . ], v thc Frcnc] ,

hut in war distance in yards is not everything. The important thing is Iho strength in which tho various armies arn employed." But for tlio necessity of combating propaganda, lie would loathe to draw comparisons between our efforts mid those of our Allies. Ho could not forgot how gallantly Franco bore the early stages of the war, but no member of the Entente had borne the burden to such an extent, as the British Empirn. Tho most hopeful augury for the future for the Entente was that another fresh Anglo-Saxon Power was preparing to tread the path wo had trod, and oommg into tlift field to relieve us of some of the burden. There wn's no field so promising as tho air- If we now, without America's assistance, were steadily developing our air supremacy and more than holding our own, no imagination could picture the result -when tho full American air force was in tho Held alongside the Anglo-Fronch. Practically the whole burden of the war against Turkey had fallen on us. The difficult terrain in Palestine precluded any dramatic coups, but General Allonby was continually pressing the Turks.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.